DALLAS: Texas took advantage of two huge plays to extend its lead over No. 12 Oklahoma 36-13 after three quarters.

Quarterback Case McCoy hooked up with Mike Davis on a 38-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left in the third quarter to boost the lead for the Longhorns.

Earlier, Daje Johnson returned a punt 83 yards for another touchdowns.

The Longhorns, two-touchdown underdogs in this game, are playing their game of the season.

They are 15 minutes away from an upset that most Longhorn fans didn’t think was imaginable, much less possible.

From Tim Griffin:

DALLAS: Texas struck again as Daje Johnson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown to extend the Longhorns’ lead to 29-13 over Oklahoma with 7:22 left in the third quarter.

Johnson’s big play was set up when the Sooners took a 5-yard penalty to allow punter Jed Barnett to take advantage of a gusting wind.

Barnett uncorked a line-drive punt that was easily returnable. Johnson juked two defenders before running untouched into the end zone.

It was Texas’ first punt return for a touchdown since Jordan Shipley returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown against Colorado on Oct. .10, 2009.

The Sooners’ blocked Anthony Fera’s extra point. The margin technically is still two touchdowns and two two-point conversions, but Bob Stoops’ needs to reclaim momentum quickly.

DALLAS — Mike Hunnicutt drilled a 37-yard field goal to start the second half, pulling Oklahoma within 23-13 with 11:08 left in the third quarter.

The Sooners marched 55 yards in eight plays, but the UT defense got a key third-down stop when OU quarterback Blake Bell was stopped three yards short of the first down.

It has to be considered a positive for the Longhorns’ defense after they were blistered for a 30-yard pass from Bell to Trey Millard four plays before the field goal.

From Tim Griffin:

DALLAS — Weird things have happened in the Cotton Bowl over the years.

But nothing quite as unusual has happened — at least recently — as Texas’ surprising 23-10 halftime lead over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.

The Longhorns were two-touchdown underdogs coming into the game. But they have dominated the game from the opening staff as they’ve taken an unexpected lead.

Anthony Fera added a 43-yard field goal as time expired to provide the Longhorns with their final points.

Case McCoy has orchestrated an offensive attack that has befuddled OU’s heralded defense. The Longhorns have piled up 14 first downs and 303 yards. Most impressively, they have converted nine of 12 third downs against the Big 12 leaders in third-down conversion defense.

OU has been limited to 108 yards. The Sooners didn’t consistently move the ball until their final possession of the half. Roy Finch’s 73-yard kickoff return set up Damien Williams’ 3-yard TD run five plays later for their only touchdown.

UT’s defense has confuse OU quarterback Blake Bell, who has completed 5-of-12 passes for 35 yards. The Sooners have converted only one of six plays on third down.

The question remains if the Longhorns can continue the pressure as the Sooners will take the opening kickoff of the second half.

But embattled UT coach Mack Brown couldn’t have asked for a more impressive start than he’s coached in the first half.

From Griffin

DALLAS: Oklahoma’s lethargy apparently has ended as Damien Williams’ 3-yard touchdown run with 1:06 left in the first half has pulled the Sooners within 20-10 of Texas.

Roy Finch’s 73-yard kickoff return set the Sooners up in their best field position of the half. Five plays later, OU scored to trim the deficit to 10 points.

DALLAS — Anthony Fera’s season-best 50-yard field goal has extended Texas’ leas to 20-3 with 3:22 left in the first half.

The Longhorns marched 20 yards on seven plays after forcing an OU punt.

They are dominating the line of scrimmage as UT quarterback Case McCoy appears to have OU’s secondary rattled.

We’ll see if the unexpected Texas domination can continue.

DALLAS — Case McCoy’s gutty leadership has boosted Texas to a 17-3 lead over Oklahoma with 8:46 left in the first half.

McCoy hooked up with Marcus Johnson on a 59-yard touchdown pass for the recent score.

It came in the teeth of an Oklahoma blitz as McCoy sidestepped blitzing safety Quentin Hays.

Johnson, a sophomore from League City, got a step Kass Everett down the right sideline.

The quick strike has provided a surprising early advantage for the Longhorns, who were two-touchdown underdogs coming into the game.

First quarter report:

From Griffin

DALLAS — Chris Whaley’s 31-yard interception return has sparked Texas to an early 10-3 lead over Oklahoma.

The huge turnover for a touchdown came only two plays after OU had come up with a turnover when P.L. Lindley recovered Joe Bergeron’s fumble at the OU 20.

The Longhorns have dominated the game early with seven first downs and 106 yards, compared to four first downs and 78 yards for the Sooners.

It’s exactly the kind of start Mack Brown would have hoped for if he could have picked it. The Longhorns already are showing more early enthusiasm than any of the previous two games against the Sooners where they lost by an average of 40 points.

One item to note might be the condition of UT quarterback Case McCoy, who was rattled by a hit by Eric Striker that drew a penalty.

McCoy has been passing along the sidelines, but it will be interesting to see what condition he will be in when he returns to the game.

By Griffin:

Massive 295-pound Texas defensive tackle Chris Whaley’s 31-yard interception return has sparked the Longhorns to a 10-3 lead over Oklahoma with 2:29 left in the first quarter.